Final Fantasy IV + The After Years Go To PSP

[Elskidor]

Even I and II get more attention from them.

Which is pretty confusing. I understand FF I being the original and a fun little game, but FF II is one of the weaker titles, and doesn't have a large fan base backing it up. It's a better game than a lot of others, but as an FF title it's not in demand by the majority of fans.

[Crossblades]

JP release date announced and a special bundle

RPGFan News - Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection Gets A JP Date

Just two weeks after announcing the Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection for the PlayStation Portable, Square Enix has already set a Japanese release date... and a special bundle. This latest version contains the original game with updated graphics, The After Years sequel and a scenario which connects the two. An Ultimate Pack includes the game, a guidebook, a soundtrack CD and an original book all tucked away inside an Amano illustration-themed box. This edition runs for 9445 yen ($114.58 US), with the regular UMD costing 5980 yen ($72.54 US) and the download version 4980 yen ($60.41 US).

Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection will be released in Japan in all three forms on March 24th. This latest port has not yet been announced for North America, but fans shouldn't worry too much - surely, it'll come.

[Roogle]

If Square Enix were to release a Final Fantasy title on the main consoles, then they would undoubtedly have high definition graphics like Final Fantasy XIII. It appears that anything less than that is being sent to the DS or the PSP which explains their large number of handheld titles compared to console titles as of late.

[Bastian]

I guess that bundle sounds KIND of interesting... but not really. A guide? Who needs a guide to that game anymore? If you're buying this bundle chances are you know the game forwards and backwards. I guess the soundtrack will be interesting since it will be newly arranged with new instrument samples. I wish they would orchestrate the score and do that in-game or at least for the included CD.

The Amano artbook has me intrigued, though. But not for $115. :/

[Dignified Pauper]

This game looks gorgeous, and I would totally buy it if I had a PSP. This looks far better than the DS remake, though, I assume they will leave out the abilities they added in the DS and keep it more faithful to the original, but those are such good sprites and tilesets.

[Wolfen]

Any reason they skipped III?

[Elpizo]

Tradition?

[Hollycat]

they REALLY need to just forget 4+afteryears and make a 3 in english, there are already somewhere around 5 remakes of 4. and they are all pretty much exactly the same. also, they put adds on the box for the ds saying how it had great cgi cutscenes. there was ONE and it wasnt a cutscene, it was an intro. samething with anneversary 1+2

[ShinGundam]

Tradition?

It is Tokita's tradition as producer/director of this game to remake it on every portable system while Tanaka don't seems care about FF3

[Elpizo]

they REALLY need to just forget 4+afteryears and make a 3 in english, there are already somewhere around 5 remakes of 4. and they are all pretty much exactly the same. also, they put adds on the box for the ds saying how it had great cgi cutscenes. there was ONE and it wasnt a cutscene, it was an intro. samething with anneversary 1+2

There was a III in english, on the DS. But if you mean a 2D remake of III in english, I fully agree.

Tradition?

It is Tokita's tradition as producer/director of this game to remake it on every portable system while Tanaka don't seems care about FF3

Which is a shame, since in Japan III is a highly loved FF game. In one poll of Famitsu, it came out on the 8 place of favourite RPGs, and it was the 5th or 4th (I don't recall exactly) FF in the top 10 (IV came in the place above it, VII and X made the top 2). So III really deserves more love.

[Hollycat]

4 really was kind of lame to me, I liked 5 much better, and 6 better than that, and all the 3-d ones are better than 6 except 8... and x-2

[Hot Shot]

I often think that SE milk VII for all it's worth but at least they are adding more to the story. Save for the after years, SE aren't adding much to the overall game, they're just doing ports. Having said that, I don't own a wii and i need to get a new psp anyways. This (alongside dissidia duodecim and 3rd birthday) gives me more reason to get another one.

[Wolf Kanno]

^ I'm actually on the opposite end of the spectrum from you, the stuff they added to the VII compilation really mucked up the games world and designed and I often felt like SE weren't even trying to keep all the stories in line with stuff the main game actually spoke of and that's why I felt it was poorer than better.

While SE is certainly milking IV they have at least tried to keep the basics in place. My main issue with After Years is that I seriously never felt like it was necessary. IV ended beautifully and I never saw a reason to make a sequel to it and as I play through it, I have yet to be presented with a reason beyond making money off of IV fans who desperately wanted to see the cast again.

As for the PSP collection, I've decided I'll let it pass, I really hate the new cartoony sprites they used like the ones from the PSP versions of I and II. The spell effects don't look as cool either, but maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy who thinks it was damn good back in the old days and didn't need to be fixed in the first place.

[Roogle]

I agree, Wolf Kanno. Final Fantasy IV ended conclusively with the events in its ending and there seemed to be no indication that there would be a need or a reason to return to that world from a storyline perspective. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years does seem overly gratuitous especially in its last chapter in which (SPOILER)the full cast of characters go up against every single boss from the original game followed by various bosses from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy VI.

I would prefer the storyline of games to be made with a sequel in mind whether it eventually lives up to it or not rather than a story tacked onto a complete, conclusive story.

[Hot Shot]

That's a good point Roogle, but I still think that SE were being very ambitious with their most successful title (although a bit) and are trying to expand the story. I'm personally not a big fan but I do like the VII compilation. If SE had all of this in mind when they made the first one I'm pretty sure the compilation would be amazing. It was kinda stupid going back to game several years after it was released. And, unfortunately, this was after the end of SE 'Golden Era' (Post FF X).